Governors’ wives in Nigeria, under the Nigerian Governors’ Wives Forum (NGWF), have advocated for a nationwide six-month paid maternity leave policy to promote exclusive breastfeeding and improve maternal and child health. This initiative was highlighted during a recent event organized by the Federal Ministry of Health and other stakeholders. The advocacy aims to address challenges faced by working mothers and to create a supportive environment for breastfeeding, which is essential for infant development and reducing malnutrition and infant mortality.
Currently, only a small percentage of workplaces in Nigeria provide breastfeeding-friendly policies. UNICEF’s statistics show that only seven of Nigeria’s 36 states offer six months of fully paid maternity leave, and just 34% of children aged 0-6 months are exclusively breastfed. The governors’ wives, alongside international organizations like UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO), emphasize the need for workplace creches, breastfeeding-friendly spaces, and flexible working conditions.
This push aligns with broader health and nutrition goals, such as reducing maternal and child mortality and combating malnutrition, with significant support pledged by various organizations for improved nutrition policies.
